by India Kells
Swaying, Sloane unconsciously attempting to delay the inevitable, enjoying being taken so wantonly, but Luke wouldn’t be denied. It was like an explosion, a low shake that came from between her legs and detonated, turning her moan into a scream. Still, his mouth and fingers didn’t relent, pushing her body even more, taunting her into submitting to him once more. Sloane wasn’t a strict believer in multiple orgasms—or more precisely didn’t believe she could achieve them. She’d successfully pushed one of her lovers into that trans-state but had never encountered anybody who played her body well enough to even anticipate it.
However, before she could taste that second wave of pleasure, her body folded. If not for Luke’s strong arms, she would’ve fallen face down on the tiles. Ears buzzing, she could swear he was chuckling, but she didn’t have the will at the moment to snarl.
His arms gently placed her down, but it took a few more breaths for her brain to link with her body once more, just in time to feel Luke behind her, positioning his hard cock before pushing effortlessly into her wet folds. On all fours, over sensitized to the point where she felt restless and needy, she pushed against him, reveling in the position; his rough hands gripping her hips, her knees aching on the wet tiles, and his balls slapping her clit, preventing her from coming down. Desperate for purchase, for him, for pleasure, her want bounced all over her, just knowing that she needed more, always more.
Luke leaned forward, gently nipping her back, scratching with his beard before cupping her breasts, rough with her nipples. “How can you make me lose my mind like this, woman? One minute I only wanted to take care of you, and now, I’ve almost come undone and put more marks on your body. When you look at yourself, I want your sex to flood at the memory of me, of my cock deep in your pussy, of me taking you while you scream, over and over again.”
At his words, Sloane pushed back on him with her might. She needed just one little push, one trigger to make her tumble over. Unable to use one of her hands to flick her clit, it was her lover who sensed her frustration.
Kneading her ass, Luke maintained a brutal tempo, stimulating her to the point of madness, but as Sloane debated switching positions, finally being launched over the edge, Luke’s sneaky fingers circled back, before pushing down on her dark rosette, and the unexpected sensation was all she needed to combust.
Luke soon joined her, his hands like vices on her body, as he lost himself in his own orgasm, spilling inside her with spasms and twitches. A second or two later, he leaned back, finally bringing them flush on the bottom of the shower stall.
Out of breath, every ounce of strength left in her now evaporated, Sloane reveled in how calm and grounded she felt. She didn’t care if the world came down around her head as long she was connected with Luke Radcliffe. She knew she’d feel uncomfortable later letting him take over like that, but for the moment, tiredness pulled at her too much for her to regret it.
Luke moved first, turning off the water before helping her up. It was clear he was as spent as she was, and like two drunks, they made their way to the bed.
Dripping wet, they snuggled under the covers, and Sloane cuddled even closer, wrapping her arms around him. The last memory before she shut down was Luke doing the same, bringing her in like a hard cocoon, safe, whispering her name in her wet hair.
Chapter 16
Heavy. Sloane felt so heavy, and sated and peaceful, and the incredibly novel sensation should’ve frightened her, but it didn’t. There was no need to open her eyes to feel that part of the sensation was due to a man whose scent filled her nose and whose heat seeped down through her bones.
How many times had she had woken on the complete opposite of that scale? Weary, uncomfortable, itching to be somewhere else to the point where she’d checked the window for a way out.
Her body felt sore too, but Melina had worked her magic to alleviate the worst of it.
The softest breath fanning her stomach made her open her eyes to see that sunlight had come and gone and that her world was in darkness again, but this time, she wasn’t alone.
Her hands went to the mop of brown hair, stroking the wayward strands, not quite willing to wake him yet. She touched the beard that had chaffed the inside of her thighs, neck, and so many other spots on her body. The sensations lingered in her mind, etched on her skin. The man was lethal, both when he took her like a savage, or devoured her like he had all the time in the world.
What stunned her even more was that hunger had gnawed at her the same way, and for the first time, it didn’t dim with the fog of awakening.
Luke had a muscled arm over her hips, his knees against hers. The hold was loose, but his strength was hovering, telling her that if she dared move, he’d bring her back into his grasp. It made her smile, her fingertips gently scratching his scalp. She must have done something right, as the man in her arms emitted a rumble of approval.
“Best morning ever.” His voice was rough and content.
“It’s no longer morning, lover boy. I don’t even think it’s considered day anymore.”
He grunted, but didn’t shift, so she continued playing with his hair. If she were honest with herself, she hadn’t experienced this intimacy where two lovers lay there, without the need to talk or to do a repeat of the previous sexual exploits.
“I don’t care if it’s day, night, or the second coming. I’m not moving from where I am until you tell me to.”
Sloane felt the same way, and despite the addictive warmth and steadiness, she knew the bubble they were in couldn’t last forever. Reality would burst it soon.
“I smell burning rubber.”
His words didn’t make sense, and as it was impossible to see the expression on his face, the only other solution was to ask. “What?”
Luke pushed himself up so he could look at her face. “What I meant was that I could hear the wheels turning in your head. You’re thinking awfully hard.”
Her hand went to the reddish gash on his forehead. “You shouldn’t have removed the bandage. Does it hurt?”
He only kissed her stomach lightly. “It was soaked. It doesn’t hurt. If it becomes a problem, I’ll ask Melina for a new one.”
“Can you not say the name of another woman when you’re naked in bed with me?”
Those deep eyes assessed her before his beard split with a grin. “Why does it bother you?”
With no intention of answering that question, Sloane angled her head. “I was being serious. How’s your head?”
Luke began by kissing his way up her stomach to her breasts. When he flicked her nipple, she found it amazing how he could change her mind in less than a second.
He abandoned her breasts, going down again. “As you seem to be in an awful mood, maybe we could start clarifying where we are. And who the two people I met last night are, including the ravishing Melina.”
Sloane wanted to push him away but how his tongue swirled on her hip bone convinced her to give him another chance, especially since his mouth sent delicious tremors up and down her spine.
His hands slid down her legs, pushing them open. “I think you should start explaining.” Before his words made their way through the fog of lust to her brain, his tongue snaked through her folds, making her restless. “I hear moans but not words.”
When he flicked her clit, Sloane bowed. “Come on, you’re not going to torture information out of me, are you?”
Another flick, another moan, and lust rose quickly inside her.
“Lady, I’m already deep in your secrets, and they’ll be safe with me.”
Her hands went to his head and fisted his hair to make him look up at her. “Come here. You don’t have to torture me for basic information. I don’t know if I’ll be able to answer all your questions, but I’ll do my best.”
Something relaxed in him when he retraced his path and came to lie beside her. “I’m all ears.”
The boyish smile made her relax in turn. “I suppose you want to know about Noctem?”
“I said I wan
ted to know everything about you, and that includes your work. So why not start with that?”
One hand supported his head, the other traced lazy circles around her navel, patiently waiting for her. It seemed there wasn’t a way out of this.
“I spend a lot of time here. With Noctem Consulting, I mean. They became my family. Dysfunctional, weird, and annoying at times, but I guess they’re good people.”
“Noctem is a cover name…”
“Yes and no. It is for the Vigilante, but each of us has specific skills that we offer. Also, it would be strange if the Vigilante had this undercover life, but nothing day to day. It gives us alibis if need be and access to places or events that would normally be closed to us. I do security consulting when I’m not here.”
A frown marred his handsome face. “How can you be the Vigilante and have a day job? It’s impossible, you have to sleep, rest.”
Sloane couldn’t contain her smile. “Ah! Yeah. This a bit of information you don’t have. I’m not the only Vigilante.”
The fog quickly lifted from his dark eyes. “Of course! I was so caught up in everything else I should have known. No way would Lance stay on the sidelines. It’s wise to have different people under the suit. Good for rotation, but also to throw people off. That was obvious when I searched social media.”
This time, Sloane mirrored his posture to look at him in the eyes. “So you looked for me on social media?”
“More like the Vigilante… but I admit that I checked you out. Let me remind you that you said I could.” His hand left her belly to trace the ink just under her left breast. “Usque ad finem. Apart from the Marine motto Semper fi, I don’t know Latin… what does it mean?”
“Until the very end. It’s our motto here at Noctem. Each of us had this inked on us, a kind of secret code, but also a reminder of our purpose, the fact that for many, we’re the last line of defense, and must be there until the very end.”
“That’s a dangerous vow you took.”
Sloane enjoyed his soothing touch. “I found a purpose greater than myself here. It wasn’t a difficult promise to make.”
“And what about your life? When you’re not the Vigilante, who do you want to be?”
It was Sloane’s turn to frown. “You mean like what you did? Found your way by becoming a professor? Turning your passion into your life?”
Now his warm palm rested on her hip. “Yes, but what do you want for your own life?”
“You can’t possibly see any kind of happy ending for me. My biological family was the definition of fucked up. You can ask any of my friends here and they’ll tell you I’m not good at relationships. It’s a miracle you’ve spent so much time by my side and haven’t had the irrepressible need to bury me alive. I think I’m good for short stints, one night stands. Anyway, it’s what we’re having right now. Lucky you.”
Her attempt at humor fell flat. From relaxed, Luke tensed, removing his hand from her. “Yeah, again, you’ve made it very clear. Sorry, I forgot you’re only a quick fuck.”
She’d been accused of that before, but this was the first time it got to her. “Hey! I’m being honest here. I’ve worked through shit enough to at least be honest with myself. You can’t accuse me of not being honest with you.”
Luke exhaled sharply before rolling away, turning his back on her. Sloane felt anxious, uncomfortable. Was it because of what she’d said, or because of how he’d reacted? She’d expected him to simply agree to have fun and part ways when it was over.
She put a hand on his back, mindful of his bruises, and he immediately tensed. Ignoring it, she came to sit beside him. “You wanted something different from me?”
Luke shrugged. “I’m just tired, don’t mind me.”
It was tempting to push him further, coax clarification from him, although it was impossible that he’d actually thought there could be a future with her, did he? And why, for the first time ever, hadn’t a coil of pure fear form in her stomach? Shaking her head, she tried to make sense of this unexpected twist. “Listen, Luke. I’ve never let anyone so close, revealing all my secrets. I told you, I don’t know what you expect of me. All I know is that I care about you. And I want you.”
Again, she spoke the truth, amidst all the unknown emotions that needed to be deciphered. Luke locked gazes with her, her brown irises burning with their intensity. Scrambling to find the right words, those that would tell him to stay, to continue to trust her, to remain by her side, he was the one who finally made a move.
When she expected recriminations, or a simple cold shoulder, Luke opted for the only language that seemed to work between them. “Then I’ll fuck you, as it’s the only thing I’ll ever get. I’ll remain by your side until it’s over, and then I’ll leave as you wish. I’ll leave you to the life you want, and I’ll start mine. Deal?”
He didn’t wait for her answer, his body lunging into a kiss, the civilized man turning into the beast she craved. Relieved for the truce, why did his words feel so cold? Sloane reached for him, once more lost in the fire between them, but a nagging thought blossomed in her mind, draping itself around her heart. It felt as if something had slid through her fingers like sand, never to be found again. When desperation caught her though, she expressed it with her body, with this man, and promised herself to look at it later. For that she needed all her courage, as she felt something had shifted inside her, and it scared her to death.
Chapter 17
Much later, as Sloane dressed, Luke went to grab something to eat in the kitchen, not that he was that hungry. He knew he should fill his stomach, but he was distracted, and cooking was the last thing on his mind. He was grateful to find some ready-mixed protein bottles stocked in the fridge. He didn’t want to think about what had happened earlier. He’d made himself vulnerable, for the first time in a very long time, and to the worst possible person. How could he have imagined building anything with Sloane? It was clear he’d scared her to death, which was far from the love he’d hoped to see in her eyes. It was a reality check he’d be best to remember.
As he gulped down the drink, Luke had to admit that this place was nice, homey. He didn’t see anyone else, but it was clear the place was used a lot. The kitchen was the central point of the level, with a large living room opposite the sleeping quarters.
Were there others around? With a brief glance at the elevator, he supposed that if there were, they’d be downstairs. Weren’t those working for the Vigilante active at night?
Maybe he should have waited for Sloane, but he wanted to dig on his own, without the filter of her coloring the information she gave him.
The elevator door slid open as he approached, probably due to a motion detector, and the control panel was a slick wooden piece with four unidentified buttons. Luke pressed the last one on the bottom and the doors closed on him. The ride was quick and smooth, and opened to a sort of garage combined with a storage room. Wooden boxes were stacked on one side, and there were dark cases too. Curious, he stepped out of the elevator to look around.
The area was way bigger than he’d anticipated, and his first impression wasn’t exact. Once past the boxes, he found himself in a high-tech armory. Everything was military grade and kept in perfect order, most probably for quick access. On the other end was a vast parking area, with various vehicles, all matted black or deep gray, and also ordinary vehicles, most probably the civilian ones of the people working here. However, he didn’t see the one Sloane had used the night before. In fact, he was certain they’d parked on another level as he would’ve remembered the setup.
Back at the elevator, Luke pressed the second to last button and he felt the lift going up for a few seconds. The doors slid open and this time, he remembered having been there. The place was no longer empty though. Two people were at the control center that looked more and more like some starship’s helm, and four people were completing drills in the training area. When he looked on the far side, he saw the small parking area they’d left the car in, and it was still
there.
Everything stopped the moment he stepped out of the elevator, all eyes turning to him. He recognized Lance on the mats with Melina. He also recognized the brown-haired man who’d greeted him last wearing a funny t-shirt, but the three others were complete strangers.
The more he learned about the Vigilante thing, the more he discovered how complex it was, and that it was more than a single-person operation as he’d initially thought.
It was Lance who came to him first, the others waiting to follow his lead. It was clear that the blond mountain of a man wasn’t happy about the situation, but the animosity had lessened a bit.
“Professor Radcliffe. Glad to see you’re up and about. Your head wound seems better too.”
Extending his hand, Luke took it without hesitation. “Yes, definitely better. I want to thank you for saving my life and taking care of me. I know Sloane did some of the heavy lifting, but I see it’s teamwork too. Know that I’m grateful, and you don’t have to worry I’ll say a word to anyone about all this.”
They were only words, but what Luke said was the truth. It wasn’t for him to judge whether what they’d done in Chicago was legal or not, but he couldn’t deny the results.
Lance seemed to consider his statement. “From what we gathered from your file, I think we can believe you on that. But know if you change your mind, there will be consequences.”
“You were the ones that came to me, and I’ve been anything but deceptive, so you can stuff your threat for all I care.”
It wasn’t obvious, but the others closed the circle around them. Luke knew he didn’t stand a chance against the warrior, not in his physical state, or his lack of training, but he’d never been the kind of man to back down when attacked.
“Sloane had to make the call to reveal who she was, and the circumstances didn’t leave much choice in her bringing you here, but don’t expect us to trust you without question.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Luke looked around. “You probably know every single thing about my life.”
